Tom Gjelten

Tom Gjelten is a veteran journalist and the inaugural Sakka Family Religion and International Journalism Fellow at Georgetown University's College of Arts & Sciences during spring 2025. Previously, he served as religion and belief correspondent at National Public Radio (NPR) for nearly four decades, reporting internationally from Central and South America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, and later covering U.S. diplomacy and military affairs from the State Department and Pentagon.

His research focuses on the intersection of religion and international affairs, examining America's changing religious landscape, faith's role in politics, and social conflicts arising from religious differences. Expertise extends to immigration studies (evidenced by "A Nation of Nations"), historical conflict reporting in the Balkans and Cuba, and contemporary issues like Christianity's relationship with democracy, progressive evangelicalism, and refugee policies.

Scientific awards received include:

• Two Overseas Press Club Awards
• George Polk Award
• Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award
• National Headliner Award
• Religion News Association Religion Story of the Year Award (2022)